Nuclear Weapons and the Korea Crisis

This assignment analyzes two articles examining the motivations behind nuclear weapon development by states and the ongoing Korean crisis. The first article explores three theoretical frameworks: security, domestic politics, and norms, explaining why states choose to build or withhold nuclear weapons. The second article delves into the complexities of the North Korean crisis, arguing that misunderstandings from neighboring countries contribute to the conflict. Ultimately, the assignment highlights contrasting perspectives on nuclear proliferation and international relations in East Asia.

Running head: SUMMARY
Summary of the two articles
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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SUMMARY
Article 1- Why Do States Build Nuclear Weapons
This article mainly focuses on the importance of why states need to build nuclear
weapons. Building nuclear weapon is necessary for international security in the future as well
present foreign policies. However, today many states are seen to have shown interest
regarding the decision making for developing nuclear weapons compared to few states that
are still abstained from taking this type of decisions. According to the US policymakers and
the scholars of international relations, the decision of developing nuclear weapon in the state
mainly occurs when they are left with no alternatives while facing noteworthy military threat
to the security of their state. This article further investigates three theoretical frameworks
which highlights why the states builds or withhold them from developing nuclear weapons.
The security model suggests that in order to enhance national security against foreign or
nuclear threat states built nuclear weapon. Then there is the domestic politics model, which
visualizes nuclear weapons as political tools that are utilized to increase domestic as well as
bureaucratic interests. Lastly, the norms model has been discussed which says that weapons
development imparts an essential normative symbol of modernity and identity of the state.
Therefore, this article concludes providing the scope for further research along with the
investigation of the policy dilemmas created by the three frameworks discussed (Sagan,
1996).
Article 2- The Korea crisis
This article is all about how the neighbors misunderstand North Korea and how
necessary it is mainly on the parts of U.S to analyze as well as understand the genuine
sources of the North’s behavior. The main points that were highlighted in this article are that
this country belongs to the ‘Axis of Evils’ along with Iran and Iraq where they are only
linked to sale their goods to each other. Then, the leader of North Korea named Kim Jong-II

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SUMMARY
is rational, calculative as well as brutal. Under his leadership, North Korea has participated in
a bargaining strategy sketched to ratchet up an emergency with the US. However, North
Korea causes direct hazard for US. Another issue stated within this article that North Korea
has been observed not admiring international agreements. Moreover, this article has also
discussed about the collapse of North Korea from the fall of the Berlin wall that took place in
1989. The major impact that North Korea has is from China. They are depended for the
materials like energy supplies as well as imports from China. Former US president has tagged
the border between the Koreas to be the most frightening place because of the old armistice
and no peace treaty. Moreover, Clinton’s administrative policies towards North were
ineffective and Bush’s administrative strategy brought the present crisis. Few Koreans are
even found to be anti-American thus, focusing on the consequences US should pull out their
troops (Cha & Kang, 2003).
Therefore, from both the articles it can be concluded that the main ideas that one can
get is that developing nuclear weapons in each state is necessary because it has several
advantages starting from enhancing national security, used as a political tool or as a symbol
of modernity or identity to the state. On the other hand, the next article states that North
Korean crisis is mainly because it is hazardously misunderstood by its neighboring countries.
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SUMMARY
Reference
Cha, V. D., & Kang, D. C. (2003). The Korea Crisis. Foreign Policy, 20-28.
Sagan, S. D. (1996). Why do states build nuclear weapons? Three models in search of a
bomb. International security, 21(3), 97.